Let the Vacation Begin!!!

Waterfall along the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail, Glacier National Park

Monday morning, since it was nice and cool for Roxanne to stay in the truck, we decided to take two familiar hikes in West Glacier.  The first hike was up Trail of the Cedars nature trail.  The second was along Lake McDonald at the end of McDonald Falls Road.  To get to the lake, we traveled through the old burn area.  We watched a pair of rare pileated woodpeckers strip the bark off standing dead timber, looking for bugs.  Later we spied a mother eagle and her eaglet.

Pileated Woodpecker, Glacier National Park

Eagle and Eaglet, Glacier National Park

Tuesday morning, we left West Glacier, in hopes of camping at Many Glaciers Campground in East Glacier.  We drove Going to the Sun Road.  Near Logan Pass, we discovered a herd of mountain goats.  For any of you who have been following our blog, you well know that mountain goats have been elusive for me.  The closest I have ever gotten was probably 500 yards.  Not today!  I was carrying my large zoom lens and kept having to back up to take the shots.  It was fantastic!

Mountain goat resting in the snow, Glacier National Park

Mountain goat kid looking for his mother, Glacier National Park,

Mother Mountain Goat and kid, Glacier National Park

With Many Glaciers campground full, we decided to cross into Canada and spend the night at Waterton National Park.  Our customs experience was smooth and easy.  Within a quarter mile from the border crossing, we saw our first brown bear.  Although I only got a snapshot of his rear end before he retreated into the heavy foliage, we were exhuberant. 

Later, after we entered Canada's Waterton National Park (sister park to Glacier), we found a black bear chomping berries and a deer grazing.  As night began to fall, a buck and doe walked behind our campsite.  

Black bear at Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada

Red doe grazing at Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada

Buck in velvet behind our campsite in Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada

We are in high hopes that we will continue to see these kinds of animals along our route.  The cameras are locked and loaded… time now for some serious photography!

Columbia Falls on Dwellable